Traction enhancement devices and related packages of traction enhancement devices

ABSTRACT

A traction enhancement device for installation to a sole of a shoe includes a generally rigid support layer having opposing first and second surfaces, an adhesive material coupled to the first surface of the support layer for coupling the traction enhancement device to the sole of the shoe, and a gritty material coupled to the second surface of the support layer for enhancing traction of the sole of the shoe.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 61/898,160, filed on Oct. 31, 2013. The entiredisclosure of the above application is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to traction enhancement devicesand, more particularly, to traction enhancement devices that can beinstalled to soles of shoes to thereby help improve traction of theshoes on surfaces, as well as to packages of such traction enhancementdevices.

BACKGROUND

This section provides background information related to the presentdisclosure which is not necessarily prior art.

Many types of men's and women's shoes, both new and used, have flatand/or smooth soles. And, because of the flat and/or smooth soles, userswearing such shoes often slip and/or slide when walking. As aconsequence, the users may be hesitant when walking in the shoes and/ormay even injure themselves if they slip and/or slide while walking.

SUMMARY

This section provides a general summary of the disclosure, and is not acomprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of its features.

Example embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate totraction enhancement devices for shoes. In some example embodiments,such a traction enhancement device generally include a generally rigidsupport layer having opposing first and second surfaces, an adhesivematerial coupled to the first surface of the support layer for couplingthe traction enhancement device to a sole of a shoe, and a grittymaterial coupled to the second surface of the support layer forenhancing traction of the sole of the shoe.

Example embodiments of the present disclosure also generally relate toshoes comprising such traction enhancement devices.

Example embodiments of the present disclosure also generally relate topackages of traction enhancement devices. In one example embodiment,such a package of traction enhancement devices generally includes aplurality of traction enhancement devices, where the tractionenhancement devices configured to be coupled to soles of shoes tothereby help improve fraction of the shoes on surfaces, and a containerfor holding the plurality of traction enhancement devices. The containerincludes a body configured to receive the plurality of tractionenhancement devices therein and a cover releasably coupled to the bodyfor providing selective access to the plurality of traction enhancementdevices received in the body.

Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the descriptionprovided herein. The description and specific examples in this summaryare intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended tolimit the scope of the present disclosure.

DRAWINGS

The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only ofselected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are notintended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example embodiment of a tractionenhancement device of the present disclosure, shown coupled to a sole ofa shoe;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the traction enhancement device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the traction enhancement device of FIG.2.

FIG. 4 is the bottom plan view of FIG. 3, with a release layer removedfrom the traction enhancement device to expose an adhesive materialthereof for use in coupling the traction enhancement device to the soleof the shoe of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an example embodiment of a package oftraction enhancement devices of the present disclosure.

Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughoutthe several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference tothe accompanying drawings.

FIGS. 1-4 illustrate an example embodiment of a traction enhancementdevice 100 including one or more aspects of the present disclosure. Aswill be described, the traction enhancement device 100 generallyincludes an adhesive based sheet, pad, etc. that can be quickly andeasily installed (via a coupling portion 102) to a bottom portion of ashoe 104. In so doing, a traction portion 106 (e.g., an abrasiveportion, etc.) of the traction enhancement device 100 helps make theshoe 104 more resistant to slipping, sliding, etc. when walking onsurfaces.

As shown in FIG. 1, the fraction enhancement device 100 is configured tocouple to a sole 108 of the shoe 104 for improving traction of the shoe104 on surfaces when worn by a user. The illustrated shoe 104 is alady's high-heel shoe, and the traction enhancement device 100 is showncoupled to a front portion 110 of the sole 108 of the shoe 104.Alternatively, the fraction enhancement device 100 could be coupled to aheel portion 112 of the sole 108 of the shoe 104, or to any otherportion of the sole 108 of the shoe 104 within the scope of the presentdisclosure. In addition, one traction enhancement device 100 could becoupled to the front portion 110 of the sole 108 of the shoe 104 andanother traction enhancement device 100 could be coupled to the heelportion 112 of the sole 108 of the shoe 104. Further, the tractionenhancement device 100 may be coupled to lady's shoes other thanhigh-heel shoes, or to any desired men's shoes, or to any other desiredshoes, for example, having flat and/or smooth soles (e.g., shoes withleather soles that are flat and/or smooth, etc.), etc. within the scopeof the present disclosure. For example, the traction enhancement device100 could also be coupled to cowboy boots (e.g., along the backside andup heels of the boots, etc.) to provide improved traction (where,because of the nature of the boots being angled inwardly, walking heelto toe in the boots can be slippery without using the tractionenhancement device 100).

The illustrated traction enhancement device 100 is relatively thin insize (FIG. 1). As such, the traction enhancement device 100 can becoupled to the sole 108 (e.g., the front portion 110, the heel portion112, etc.) of the shoe 104 without interfering with walking and/orwithout affecting comfort, balance, etc. A user wearing the shoe 104,with the traction enhancement device 100 coupled thereto, will not feelthe traction enhancement device 100 on the shoe 104 (e.g., the shoe 104will not feel thicker at the sole 108, etc.). As an example, theillustrated traction enhancement device 100 may have a thickness ofabout 100 micrometers or less (e.g., about 50 micrometers or less, about50 points or less, between about 47 micrometers and about 50micrometers, etc.). However, it should be appreciated that thickertraction enhancement devices may be used within the scope of the presentdisclosure. For example, in other example embodiments tractionenhancement devices may have thicknesses greater than about 100micrometers (e.g., about 300 micrometers or less, etc.) etc.

The illustrated fraction enhancement device 100 is also generallyrectangular in shape (e.g., defines a generally rectangular shape,etc.). However, other shapes of traction enhancement devices may be usedwithin the scope of the present disclosure. For example, other exampleembodiments of fraction enhancement devices may define generally squareshapes, generally oval shapes, generally circular shapes, generallytriangular shapes, etc. In addition, the illustrated tractionenhancement device 100 may have any desired size (or may be cut, ripped,etc. to any desired smaller size) within the scope of the presentdisclosure. For example, the traction enhancement device 100 may have awidth dimension W of about 0.5 inches and a length L dimension of about3.5 inches. However, other example embodiments of traction enhancementdevices may have width dimensions greater than or less than about 0.5inches and/or length dimensions greater than or less than about 3.5inches within the scope of the present disclosure.

With reference now to FIGS. 2-4, the traction enhancement device 100generally includes the traction portion 106 (FIG. 2) and the couplingportion 102 (FIGS. 3 and 4). And, a support layer 114 is provided tosupport the coupling portion 102 and the traction portion 106. Thetraction portion 106 is configured to provide the improved traction tothe shoe 104 on surfaces when the shoe 104 (having the tractionenhancement device 100 coupled thereto) is worn by a user. And, thecoupling portion 102 is configured to couple the traction enhancementdevice 100 to the sole 108 of the shoe 104 (FIG. 1).

The fraction portion 106 of the traction enhancement device 100 includesa gritty material 116 (e.g., a friction-producing material, an abrasivematerial, etc.) that provides the improved fraction to the shoe 104(e.g., to enhance the traction of the sole 108 of the shoe 104 on thesurfaces when worn by a user, etc.). The gritty material 116 is applied(e.g., coupled, coated, etc.) to a first surface of the support layer114 for defining the traction portion 106. The gritty material 116 caninclude any suitable material within the scope of the present disclosureincluding, for example, sand, gravel, shells, glass, scales, seeds,sandpaper, combinations thereof, etc. In addition, the gritty material116 may be configured (e.g., sized, shaped, etc.) so as to provide theimproved traction while, at the same time, inhibiting damage to delicatesurfaces such as wood floors, etc. For example, the gritty material 116of the traction portion 106 may be configured so that particles of thegritty material 116 have diameters of less than about 260 micrometers(e.g., about 190 micrometers or less, about 68 micrometers or less,about 46 micrometers or less, etc.). As an example, the traction portion106 of the illustrated traction enhancement device 100 may includegritty material 116 that comprises multiple sand and gravel particleshaving an average diameter of less than about 50 micrometers.

In the illustrated embodiment, an adhesive material (e.g., a glue, aresin, a solvent based adhesive, a polymer dispersion adhesive, acontact adhesive, a hot adhesive, a synthetic adhesive, etc.) is usedfor coupling the gritty material 116 of the traction portion 106 to thefirst surface of the support layer 114. In other example embodiments,traction enhancement devices may include traction portions where grittymaterial 116 is instead impregnated, embedded, etc. into, onto, etc.surfaces of support layers of the traction enhancement devices.

The coupling portion 102 of the traction enhancement device 100 includesan adhesive material 118 (FIG. 4) for coupling the device 100 to thesole 108 of the shoe 104. The adhesive material 118 is applied (e.g.,coated, coupled, etc.) to a second surface (generally opposing the firstsurface) of the support layer 114 for defining the coupling portion 102.Any suitable adhesive material 118 may be used within the scope of thepresent disclosure including, for example, pressure sensitive adhesivematerial, etc. A release layer 120 (FIG. 3) is provided over (e.g.,cover, coupled to, etc.) the adhesive material 118 to protect theadhesive material 118 and/or inhibit the adhesive material 118 frominadvertently coupling to undesired surfaces prior to use. The releaselayer 120 is configured (e.g., sized, shaped, constructed, etc.) to beremoved (e.g., peeled away, etc.) from the adhesive material 118 whendesired to install, couple, etc. the traction enhancement device 100 tothe sole 108 of the shoe 104. For example, left and right portions 120a, 120 b of the release layer 120 (as viewed in FIG. 3) can be accessedat seam 122 and then peeled away from the adhesive material 118. Withthat said, it should be appreciated that the release layer 120 can beformed from suitable material including, for example, silicone material,wax paper material, etc.

In the illustrated embodiment, the support layer 114 of the tractionenhancement device 100 has a generally rectangular shape matching,defining, etc. the generally rectangular shape of the tractionenhancement device 100. In addition, the illustrated support layer 114is formed from a generally rigid material (e.g., a generally rigid papermaterial, other generally rigid materials, etc.). As such, the supportlayer 114 provides structure, rigidity, etc. to the traction enhancementdevice 100 (e.g., giving the traction enhancement device 100 a generallyrigid structure, etc.). Further, because of this generally rigidconfiguration of the support layer 114, the traction enhancement device100 is provided in a sheet or pad of material, as opposed to a roll.This helps the traction enhancement device 100 maintain its shape whenbeing applied to the sole 108 of the shoe 104, and helps inhibit thedevice 100 from rolling or folding over on itself (e.g., as often occurswith less rigid materials such as those provided on rolls, etc.). Withthat said, it should also be appreciated that the traction enhancementdevice 100 is still flexible enough to track slight contours (e.g.,contour 124, etc.) of the sole 108 of the shoe 104 when installedthereto, for example, to accommodate slight bends in the sole 108, etc.What's more, the generally rigid configuration of the support layer 114also allows the traction enhancement device 100 to be creased, folded,etc. and torn to smaller sizes if needed without the use of blades, etc.

The illustrated traction enhancement device 100 is also configured fortemporary use. For example, the gritty material 116 may be intended towear off after one or two days of use, after which time it iscontemplated that the sole 108 of the shoe 104 may be sufficientlyscuffed from such use to provide sufficient fraction without furtherneed for the traction enhancement device 100. At this time, any part ofthe traction enhancement device 100 remaining on the sole 108 of theshoe 104 (e.g., the support layer 114, etc.) can be removed (e.g.,peeled off, etc.) and disposed. However, if enhanced traction is stilldesired, a new traction enhancement device 100 can be installed to thesole 108 of the shoe 104 for use. What's more, this process can berepeated as often as desired by a user wearing the shoe 104.

In other example embodiments of the present disclosure, tractionenhancement devices may include sandpaper defining both support layersand traction portions. Adhesive materials may then be applied to thesandpaper, on sides of the sandpaper opposite the traction portions, tothereby define coupling portions for use in coupling the tractionenhancement devices to soles of shoes. In these example embodiments, thesandpaper may have Coated Abrasive Manufacturers Institute (CAMI) gritdesignations of about 80 so as to provide improved fraction to the shoeswhile, at the same time, inhibiting damage to delicate flooring surfaceson which the shoes may be worn (e.g., wood floors, etc.). In still otherexample embodiments, traction enhancement devices may include sandpaperwith CAMI grit designations of greater than about 80 (e.g., about 220,about 240, about 320, etc.) or with CAMI grit designations of less thanabout 80 (e.g., about 60, etc.) within the scope of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example embodiment of a package 230 of tractionenhancement devices 200 include one or more aspect of the presentdisclosure. The traction enhancement devices 200 included in the package230 may include any of the traction enhancement devices described herein(e.g., multiple ones of the traction enhancement device 100 previouslydescribed and illustrated in FIGS. 1-4, etc.), or any other suitabletraction enhancement devices as desired.

As shown in FIG. 5, the package 230 includes the fraction enhancementdevices 200 and a container 232 for holding, storing, etc. the tractionenhancement devices 200. The container 232 includes a body 234configured (e.g., sized, shaped, constructed, etc.) to receive thetraction enhancement devices 200 therein, and a cover 236. The cover 236is configured to releasably couple to the body 234 (e.g., via apivotable coupling, a snap-fit coupling, etc.). As such, the cover 236can be selectively coupled to the body 234 to help retain, protect, etc.the fraction enhancement devices 200 disposed within the body 234, andremoved from the body 234 to provide access to an interior of the body234 for removing traction enhancement devices 200, refilling tractionenhancement devices 200, etc.

In the illustrated embodiment, the container 232 is sized to holdmultiple traction enhancement devices 200 (e.g., about twenty tractionenhancement devices 200, more than about twenty traction enhancementdevices 200, less than about twenty traction enhancement devices 200,etc.). In addition, a footprint of the container 232 is sizedsubstantially similar to a footprint of the traction enhancement devices200 (e.g., having a width dimension of about 0.5 inches and a lengthdimension of about 3.5 inches, having width dimensions greater than orless than about 0.5 inches and/or length dimensions greater than or lessthan about 3.5 inches, etc.). As such, the container 232 is convenientlysized for portability and/or to be positioned, stored, etc. within apocket, a purse, etc. And, the traction enhancement devices 200 in thecontainer 232 are then readily available whenever they are needed.What's more, having the multiple traction enhancement devices 200readily available in the container 232 makes replacement of the tractionenhancement devices 200 on shoes easy. For example, when one fractionenhancement device 200 wears out, falls off a shoe, etc., another onecan readily be installed.

The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided forpurposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to beexhaustive or to limit the disclosure. Individual elements or featuresof a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particularembodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be usedin a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described.The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to beregarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all such modificationsare intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.

Specific dimensions included herein are exemplary in nature and do notlimit the scope of the present disclosure.

With that said, example embodiments have been provided so that thisdisclosure will be thorough, and will fully convey the scope to thosewho are skilled in the art. Numerous specific details are set forth suchas examples of specific components, devices, and methods, to provide athorough understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It willbe apparent to those skilled in the art that specific details need notbe employed, that example embodiments may be embodied in many differentforms and that neither should be construed to limit the scope of thedisclosure. In some example embodiments, well-known processes,well-known device structures, and well-known technologies are notdescribed in detail.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularexample embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As usedherein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” may be intended toinclude the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “including,” and“having,” are inclusive and therefore specify the presence of statedfeatures, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, butdo not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features,integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groupsthereof. The method steps, processes, and operations described hereinare not to be construed as necessarily requiring their performance inthe particular order discussed or illustrated, unless specificallyidentified as an order of performance. It is also to be understood thatadditional or alternative steps may be employed.

When an element or layer is referred to as being “on,” “engaged to,”“connected to,” or “coupled to” another element or layer, it may bedirectly on, engaged, connected or coupled to the other element orlayer, or intervening elements or layers may be present. In contrast,when an element is referred to as being “directly on,” “directly engagedto,” “directly connected to,” or “directly coupled to” another elementor layer, there may be no intervening elements or layers present. Otherwords used to describe the relationship between elements should beinterpreted in a like fashion (e.g., “between” versus “directlybetween,” “adjacent” versus “directly adjacent,” etc.). As used herein,the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more ofthe associated listed items.

Although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used herein todescribe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections,these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should notbe limited by these terms. These terms may be only used to distinguishone element, component, region, layer or section from another region,layer or section. Terms such as “first,” “second,” and other numericalterms when used herein do not imply a sequence or order unless clearlyindicated by the context. Thus, a first element, component, region,layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element,component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachingsof the example embodiments.

Spatially relative terms, such as “inner,” “outer,” “beneath,” “below,”“lower,” “above,” “upper,” “forward,” and the like, may be used hereinfor ease of description to describe one element or feature'srelationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in thefigures. Spatially relative terms may be intended to encompass differentorientations of the device in use or operation in addition to theorientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in thefigures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” otherelements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elementsor features. Thus, the example term “below” can encompass both anorientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented(rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relativedescriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.

What is claimed is:
 1. A traction enhancement device for a shoe, thetraction enhancement device comprising: a generally rigid support layerhaving opposing first and second surfaces; an adhesive material coupledto the first surface of the support layer for coupling the fractionenhancement device to a sole of a shoe; and a gritty material coupled tothe second surface of the support layer for enhancing traction of thesole of the shoe.
 2. The traction enhancement device of claim 1, whereinthe support layer comprises a generally rigid paper material.
 3. Thetraction enhancement device of claim 1, wherein the gritty materialcomprises sand and/or gravel material.
 4. The traction enhancementdevice of claim 1, wherein the gritty material comprises multipleparticles, and wherein an average diameter of the multiple particles isless than about 50 micrometers.
 5. The fraction enhancement device ofclaim 1, further comprising an adhesive material coupling the grittymaterial to the second surface of the support layer.
 6. The tractionenhancement device of claim 1, further comprising a release layercoupled to the adhesive material, the release layer configured to beremoved from the adhesive material when installing the tractionenhancement device to a sole of a shoe.
 7. The traction enhancementdevice of claim 6, wherein a thickness of the traction enhancementdevice is about 50 micrometers or less.
 8. The traction enhancementdevice of claim 1, wherein the support layer has a generally rectangularshape.
 9. A shoe comprising the traction enhancement device of claim 1.10. A traction enhancement device for a sole of a shoe for improvingtraction of the sole of the shoe on surfaces when the shoe is worn by auser, the traction enhancement device comprising: a rigid support layerformed from paper, the support layer having opposing first and secondsurfaces; an adhesive material coupled to the first surface of thesupport layer for use in coupling the traction enhancement device to asole of a shoe; a release layer coupled to the adhesive material, therelease layer configured to be removed from the adhesive material whencoupling the traction enhancement device to the sole of the shoe; and agritty material comprising multiple sand and/or gravel particles coupledto the second surface of the support layer, the multiple sand and/orgravel particles having diameters of less than about 50 micrometers. 11.The traction enhancement device of claim 10, further comprising anadhesive material coupling the gritty material to the second surface ofthe support layer.
 12. The traction enhancement device of claim 10,wherein a thickness of the traction enhancement device is about 50micrometers or less.
 13. The traction enhancement device of claim 10,wherein a thickness of the traction enhancement device is between about47 micrometers and about 50 micrometers.
 14. The fraction enhancementdevice of claim 10, wherein the traction enhancement device defines agenerally rectangular shape with a width dimension of about 0.5 inchesand a length dimension of about 3.5 inches.
 15. A shoe comprising thetraction enhancement device of claim
 10. 16. A package of tractionenhancement devices, the package comprising: a plurality of tractionenhancement devices, the traction enhancement devices configured to becoupled to soles of shoes to thereby help improve traction of the shoeson surfaces; and a container for holding the plurality of tractionenhancement devices, the container having a body configured to receivethe plurality of traction enhancement devices therein and a coverreleasably coupled to the body for providing selective access to theplurality of traction enhancement devices received in the body.
 17. Thepackage of claim 16, wherein each of the plurality of tractionenhancement devices comprises: a rigid support layer formed from paper,the support layer having opposing first and second surfaces; an adhesivematerial coupled to the first surface of the support layer for use incoupling the traction enhancement device to a sole of a shoe; a releaselayer coupled to the adhesive material, the release layer configured tobe removed from the adhesive material when coupling the tractionenhancement device to the sole of the shoe; and a gritty materialcomprising multiple sand and/or gravel particles coupled to the secondsurface of the support layer, the multiple sand and/or gravel particleshaving diameters of less than about 260 micrometers.
 18. The package ofclaim 17, wherein each of the plurality of traction enhancement devicesfurther comprises an adhesive material coupling the gritty material tothe second surface of the support layer.
 19. The package of claim 18,wherein a thickness of each of the plurality of traction enhancementdevices is between about 47 micrometers and about 50 micrometers. 20.The package of claim 19, wherein each of the plurality of tractionenhancement devices defines a generally rectangular shape with a widthdimension of about 0.5 inches and a length dimension of about 3.5inches.